I was so stunned and bewildered that I could only open and close my mouth without uttering a word.

Honestly, when I thought about it, this wasn’t just an unexpected suggestion; it was something I couldn’t even fathom. How could he propose such an idea with a straight face? Sure, we had kissed before, but only once. We weren’t so familiar with each other that we engaged in physical affection as casually as drinking tea…

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

It was outrageous that he knew it was a shameless question, yet he still pressed for an answer. My face grew hotter and redder, and since I still couldn’t think of anything to say, I turned my head sharply to avoid his gaze.

Then Leopold reached out and lifted my hand. His fingers brushed against my soft cheek. He tilted his head slightly and gently pressed his lips to my palm. For some reason, I couldn’t move.

Eventually, he withdrew his lips. My gaze had already settled on his clear green eyes. It was hard to look away from his charming smile, which seemed to enchant my very soul.

“You don’t necessarily have to use your hand. You just need to release the magic.”

“I’ve… never done it before.”

“Then try it once. I’ll help you until you can use your magic skillfully.”

Leopold seemed to enjoy the situation quite a bit, without a hint of embarrassment. The subtle smile on his slightly upturned lips was a clear sign of satisfaction.

He leaned closer and closer to me. His breath felt hotter than the warmth filling the room.

Could I really do this? To follow his suggestion, I would need to focus my energy on the tip of my tongue, but the sound of my rapidly beating heart made me incredibly nervous. At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to control my magic…

“…I can’t do it.”

In the end, I lowered my head deeply. Treating someone like this felt absurd.

“I’m too nervous… I can’t do it. When I’m close to you… I completely forget about the fact that I’m supposed to be healing…”

My voice grew quieter and quieter. It was fortunate that my hair covered my face; if he noticed how red my ears were, I would have bolted out of there immediately.

Did he really think this was possible?

“Hazel.”

Leopold’s deep, low voice thrilled me more than ever. Sometimes, when I heard his voice resonate not in my ears but in my chest, I would wonder if he knew how to speak directly to my soul.

Instead of answering, I slowly lifted my face. This time, he raised his hand and gently supported my chin. When our eyes met, he erased his smile and spoke.

“Then let’s save the treatment for next time.”

“Next time…?”

Was he not inclined to try the method I was considering? But the method Leopold suggested was something I found impossible to attempt. We needed to find a compromise, but no good ideas came to mind, so I simply kept my mouth shut and looked at him helplessly.

He silently gazed into my eyes and moved closer. We were so close that our noses might touch. My heart raced so fast that I struggled to breathe. I wanted to avoid him, not wanting him to notice, yet I liked the way his gaze held me captive, so I didn’t move.

Finally, Leopold whispered to me in a slow, intimate voice.

“I just… want to kiss you.”

Then a gentle sensation enveloped me. My closed lips naturally parted. Even as I accepted him, I entrusted myself entirely to him. Every place his hand touched on my back sent tingling sensations through me, leaving me breathless. Each time, Leopold would briefly pull away, as if to console me, only to eagerly return.

The scent I had always thought of as refreshing and invigorating transformed into a rich, masculine aroma that brushed past my nose. I wanted to lose myself in that scent, so I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned into him. My arms and legs seemed to lose strength, as if they weren’t my own.

“Haah…”

Without realizing it, I let out a deep breath and rested my head against his chest. Then Leopold effortlessly lifted me and seated me on the table. Before I could even be surprised, he kissed me again. Every sensation felt like it was melting my entire body.

It was as if we had been waiting for this moment all along, as we lost ourselves in each other throughout the long night.

***

When I suddenly woke up from the cold, it was morning. Leopold, who had held me tightly until I fell asleep, was nowhere to be seen. As I turned over and sat up, I finally saw him getting dressed.

“Leopold. When did you wake up?”

Leopold, who had been fastening the buttons on his cuff, turned around. When our eyes met, he spoke kindly.

“It hasn’t been long.”

He then moved closer and sat on the edge of the bed.

“You must be tired, but it’s best to leave early. You seem to feel the cold more than I expected. The mansion is warmer than here.”

“Uh, okay…”

I replied groggily, still not fully awake, and he chuckled softly. Not understanding why, I looked at Leopold with wide eyes, and he spoke with a smile still on his face.

“I like seeing you so relaxed. It’s adorable.”

Leopold lightly brushed my cheek and gave me a short kiss. Instantly, any sleepiness vanished. I hadn’t realized that being called cute could make someone feel so bashful. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t speak. My face must have turned red, but he didn’t seem to mind as he embraced me.

“I’ll wait outside. It’s cold, so hurry and get dressed.”

His warm breath filled my ear, and all I could do was nod. I felt uncertain about when I would ever get used to someone like him.

Even after Leopold left, I remained dazed for a while before trying to gather my thoughts. As I dressed, memories of last night kept resurfacing.

I had secretly been anxious, thinking there would be a next step after the kiss. So, I was a bit taken aback when Leopold ended the kiss and simply intended to let me sleep. Could it be that he didn’t want to deepen our relationship yet? But I was too embarrassed to express this.

On the other hand, I wondered if he was hesitant to complete the spell now. Was he still feeling guilty about sharing life with me…?

If that were the case, I needed to persuade him somehow. But words failed me just the same. The tangled thoughts in my head soon showed on my face, and Leopold was sensitive and perceptive.

As he tucked my fallen hair behind my ear, what he said completely defied my expectations.

‘I just want to hold you more. I want to break inside you and desire you until you go mad. You probably never knew I was so filled with longing.’

‘Leopold…’

‘But… we can’t spend our first night together in a place like this. Please understand my wish to give you the best of everything.’

‘…Of course.’

A deep sigh passed over my head as if in regret, and his gentle touch soothed me. Then, from my forehead to my nose to my lips, his kisses continued for a while.

The heated atmosphere from last night was still vivid, so I brushed my lips unconsciously and then shook my head. It was time to truly wake up.

When I stepped outside, bundled up as I had been when we arrived at the icy land, the village chief, his daughter, the shaman, and other villagers were gathered in the middle of the road, chatting in groups. In front of them was a high pile of luggage.

“What’s all this?”

“Oh, Hazel.”

As I approached and asked, Leopold seemed about to explain, placing a hand on the luggage. But before he could speak again, the villagers, starting with the chief, chimed in noisily.

“The healer has come.”

“Safe travels.”

“Let’s not fight anymore!”

“Don’t forget you promised to bring lots of meat and alcohol!”

“We’ll take care of this.”

Though I received no direct answer, they laughed heartily and began loading the luggage onto their backs. Before I could feel bewildered, Roscoe burst out from among the people.

“Hazel, Hazel!”

“Roscoe!”

The child ran excitedly into my arms. I doubted Leopold would be too pleased, but since we were leaving, it didn’t matter. I warmly hugged the child and said goodbye.

“We’re leaving now. I’ll return your cloak.”

“Thank you, Hazel! But will I see you again?”

“Of course. Come visit the mansion anytime.”

“Okay!”

As Roscoe replied cheerfully, Leopold took off his cloak and handed it over. I worried he might feel cold, but thankfully, he was wearing a short coat underneath.

“You dressed warmly without needing a reminder.”

“The chief gave it to me as a gift. There’s good leather in that luggage, too. I’ll show you in detail when we get home.”

Adding the explanation he hadn’t finished earlier, he spoke softly. But what stuck with me more than his explanation was the word ‘home.’ Perhaps because I had never considered the manor a home, it made my heart flutter.

A cozy and warm place for you and me.

“Great. You have to show me when we get home.”

I smiled brightly and took Leopold’s arm. He looked at me as if surprised, then smiled faintly and nodded.

The journey home felt incredibly exciting.